Rock some religious myths …

I heard a great teaching the other day by Curry Blake. He taught on healing and gave an example that really made me think about some stuff.

In Acts 3, Peter and John approached a man who was lame.

Acts 3:1-3Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

This exposed several myths that might float around.

Q: Do we have to be all “prayed-up” and feel all “holy” to pray for someone?
A: No. Peter and John were ON THEIR WAY to the temple. They weren’t just leaving the temple. Besides, we are considered the righteousness of Christ because of the BLOOD.

Q: Can we pray for healing when a person doesn’t ask to be healed?
A: Yes. This man didn’t ask for healing, but was asking for money (alms) instead.

Acts 3:4-5And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Q: Do we tell people to close their eyes and look to Jesus or do we represent Him here on earth?
A: When you are walking in His Name and healing in His Name — you are His representative. Peter said, “LOOK AT US.”

Acts 3:6-9Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Peter gave the man what he had access to and what belonged to him as a believer. Once he gave it to the man, he had the man activate his faith by pulling him up. It was THEN (after being lifted) that his feet and ankle bones strengthened.

Acts 3:16And His name (Jesus), through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

It was through the Name of Jesus and through the faith in His Name that brought the healing!

If you are a Christian, how were you saved? It was through faith that you believed and gave your life to Christ, right? Then why is it any different to believe in FAITH for someone’s healing? WOW. When Curry said that, it really struck me.

We are ONE with Christ. Just as a couple who is married, the wife takes the name of her husband and uses his name. We have been given permission to use that wonderful Name by which all things were created and by which all knees will bow to worship!

JESUS

We are not servants who don’t know what our master is doing, but we are SONS and DAUGHTERS of God. We serve others by getting sickness and disease off of them. We heal because of who we are.

Is this stirring your faith?

Another myth that Curry shared that really left me thinking was this …

What has God commissioned us to do as Christians?

Matthew 10:8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Jesus clearly instructed us to HEAL the sick. RAISE the dead, and cast OUT demons. Don’t let the “raising the dead” part freak you out. It happens in other countries! It will happen here in the USA too. But the reason I shared this scripture is because Curry made a statement about casting out demons.

Q: Can a demon be cast out of someone who doesn’t want it to leave?
A: YES.

Ok, this will thoroughly rock what you have always been taught. I have ALWAYS heard and believed that we shouldn’t cast out a demon if the person isn’t able to keep themselves clean. Remember the scripture that states that once a demon is cast out it will come back with seven worse if allowed back?

Luke 11:24-26“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

Curry took us back to the scripture. What does Jesus say to do? Cast out demons.

The Bible tells us that satan is the father of lies. It is his native tongue. We can’t believe him! So when we are ministering to someone and they say they want the demon to stay, HOW do we know it isn’t a lying spirit speaking? Curry said to CAST OUT the demons — get the person free, THEN share the Good News. If a person wants the demon back, they will know exactly how to find it AND will be all the more “happy” (Curry’s word) to have seven more with it. He was being a bit sarcastic about it, but his point was — if the person is happy with the demon, he will know how to get it back.

I’m sure this is going against the grain of what you have been taught too. But Curry had a good point. Nowhere did Jesus ever say, “Ask the demon possessed what they prefer.”

It definitely gives you something to chew on.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

1 Comment

Thanks for sharing this. One of the scriptures I love to share along these lines is John 14:12 – “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father”. I hate it when believers take this scripture and dumb it down. We are both qualified and expected to demonstrate the Kingdom of God.